King Solomon’s story is one of the most fascinating in all of Scripture. As the son of King David—one of many siblings—he grew up watching both the victories and the failures of his father’s life. When David passed, Solomon was chosen to sit on the throne of Israel (1 Kings 2:12).

For a season, it seemed Solomon had everything. He reigned as king, was handpicked by God to build the temple, and completed it with excellence. When God appeared to him in a dream and offered to grant any request, Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding (1 Kings 3:9–12). God was pleased and not only gave him wisdom but also wealth, honor, and influence (1 Kings 3:13). Word spread quickly—people from all over traveled just to hear him speak. It looked like Solomon was living the dream.

But this dream quickly became a nightmare. Like a roller coaster, his life soared to great heights but also plummeted to painful lows. Despite his wisdom, Solomon drifted from God, entangled in relationships with women who worshiped other gods. Their influence pulled his heart away from the Lord (1 Kings 11). The man once known for great wisdom became a warning story of wasted potential.

From both God-given insight and hard-earned scars, Solomon wrote Proverbs. And right at the start, he lays down the foundation: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7a). After all his highs and lows, Solomon wanted us to remember this: the starting line of life is knowing God and taking Him seriously.

Revival preacher A.W. Tozer put it like this: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Solomon would nod his head in agreement. So, here’s the question: when you think about God, what comes to mind? Is He distant and detached—or a loving Father who is near, holy, and worthy of your awe? Let’s build our lives upon a firm foundation, starting with the fear of the Lord.